New Democrat Update - December 1998
MORE ELECTION REFLECTIONS
According to exit polls of last month's Governor’s race, Democrats face challenges in recapturing significant parts of the middle class. Colorado Democrats should heed these results and use them as lessons for the future. The survey was conducted by the Voter News Service.
Lt. Gov. Gail Schoettler only edged State Treasurer Bill Owens by 5 percent and 6 percent in households earning $15,000-$30,000 and $30,000-$50,000, respectively. Democrats must do much better than that especially if our deficit among those making $50,000-$75,000 (the income group with the largest turnout of voters - 27 percent) remains at 13 points.
As expected, there was a definite gender gap. Schoettler's advantage with women was 12 points (55-43) while Owens’ edge among men was 14 points (55-41). Schoettler won handily with voters who regarded the environment, health care and education as their top priority. However, she lost by 58 points with those most concerned about taxes (16 percent of the electorate). Future Democratic candidates must speak to this and other fiscal discipline issues to narrow this wide gap.
The exit poll also raises some interesting questions. Schoettler did reasonably well in all age groups except those over 60 years old - a 17 point deficit. When voters indicated that abortion was their number one issue, Owens won by 6 points. Both results merit further research.
Finally, the exit poll says something very interesting about the role of government. When asked if “government should do more to solve problems’ or “government is doing too many things better left to business and individuals,” voters pick the latter by two to one.
However, when given the choice (as they were in the Colorado DLC poll), almost 60 percent want a government that helps people to equip themselves to solve their own problems. Only small numbers believe in a FDR New Deal-style government that protects people from adversity or in a libertarian one that merely stays out of our lives. If Democrats run and govern on a message and agenda of empowering government, electoral success will follow.